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Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture and Design

The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

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Computational Bucketing: Turning BIM Data into Visual Insight with Speckle Automate


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

We developed a property-driven bucketing pipeline for BIM models using Speckle Automate that automatically groups building elements by numeric ranges and visualizes them as gradient-colored 3D models on a live website — making performance data accessible without needing to open Speckle. In collaborative design projects, reviewing building performance data is often a bottleneck. Team members … Read more

From The Very Many to the Very Least (Podcast)


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Abstract In Contemporary Architecture, we are witnessing a shift from standardized building systems towards highly differentiated, data driven and geometrically complex structures. These projects challenge conventional workflows, requiring new methods to manage variation, fabrication logic, and translation of digital models into physical assemblies. Our research investigates how computational design, parametric modelling, and digital fabrication workflows … Read more

BIM in Ongoing Heritage Construction: The case of the Sagrada Família


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Computational Workflows at the Sagrada Família The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is one of the most complex and long-running architectural projects in the world. Begun in 1882 and still under construction today, the basilica sits at the intersection of historical heritage, evolving design intent, and contemporary digital technology. To understand how digital tools support such … Read more

Architectural Creativity in the Age of AI


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

“Technology is the answer, but what was the question?” Cedric Price, 1966 Data Becoming ART! This research investigates whether AI and BIM enhance architectural creativity or contribute to the standardization of design. It examines whether computational workflows expand the boundaries of architectural expression or gradually replace human intuition with optimized uniformity. The study further explores … Read more

Design Beyond the Project: Reframing Practice Through Scalable Digital Services


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

A conversation with Jesper Wallgren Introduction In recent years, computational design and BIM workflows have become common tools in architectural practice. However, most of these tools remain confined to individual projects, often developed as internal scripts or one-off automation solutions to solve immediate design problems. While effective in improving efficiency within a project, these tools … Read more

Bridging the Gap: What Two Computational Industrial Designers Taught Me About Getting In


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Computational design can feel like a field you need permission to enter, a space guarded by complex software, specialized knowledge, and a career path that isn’t clearly written anywhere. But after sitting down separately with Aaron Porterfield, developer of the open-source Grasshopper plugin Crystallon, and Aman Agrawal, founder of Cademy and computational design specialist at … Read more

AI in AEC: Accelerating Decisions, Not Replacing Designers


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Artificial Intelligence is often discussed in the AEC industry through extreme narratives, either as fully automated architecture or algorithms replacing designers altogether. But in reality, AI’s impact is much quieter and much more practical. Today, AI is not designing buildings for us. Instead, it is supporting the many process-heavy tasks that surround design. AEC workflows … Read more

Repositioning Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making in AEC


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

MACAD 25-26 Theory Seminar Reflection This essay reflects on my evolving understanding of the purpose of Artificial Intelligence in architecture, engineering, and construction following the Theory seminar at MACAD. Rather than attempting a comprehensive overview, it centres on a specific experience that crystallised broader implications about how these tools are restructuring design practice. My initial … Read more

Beyond Efficiency


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

The Purpose of AI in the Age of Resource Scarcity Introduction: Redefining the Question The question “What is the purpose of AI in AEC?” often elicits a predictable response focused on speed. For years the industry has viewed Artificial Intelligence primarily as a mechanism for automation. It is seen as a faster way to produce … Read more

MERIHAUS – Sea Urban Escapes for Seasonal Living


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

The project explores a contemporary reinterpretation of Finnish cabins, combining seasonal water living, public wellness, and boating storage. The core idea is that small modular units — cabins, saunas and workspaces — can aggregate into larger urban and social systems. Helsinki has a harsh Nordic climate, with long winters ranging from –10°C to +25°C, high … Read more

Floating Grounds-Rethinking Resilience in Jakarta


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Introduction Floating Grounds proposes a flood-resilient urban model for Jakarta that merges housing, public programs, and a stadium into a single floating system. Instead of resisting water, the project accepts it as a permanent condition and uses it as an organizing element. The work explores how large-scale infrastructure can support community life while addressing land … Read more

Tectonic Hub: Climate-Adaptive Recipe for Cultural Hubs in Reykjavik


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Ingredients Climate Reykjavík’s climate shapes the entire project. The site is exposed to strong, multi-directional winds reaching 27 m/s, with a prevailing direction around 135°. Daylight conditions are equally extreme, shifting from long summer days to very short winter ones. The system therefore needs to adapt, protect, and still create comfortable public spaces. Form Our formal … Read more

Geomorphing Terrascape: Dignifying Informal Praxis at Chihuahua, México


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

“Terrascape does not impose an external order; it encodes the survival logic of the Mexican informal ‘barrio’ to transform it into a dignified, resilient, and dynamic housing system.“ The Geometry of Necessity In the rugged topography of Chihuahua, Mexico, the “Barrio” is not just a residential zone; it is a morphological catalyst. It embodies a … Read more

Monsoon Nest: Living Between Flood and Sky


MaCAD 2025-2026 by
MaCAD 2025-2026

Monsoon Nest is a modular housing proposal for Bangkok that responds to monsoon rainfall, flooding, and high-density urban conditions. The project explores adaptable modules, elevated structures, and passive climate strategies to create resilient, community-oriented living environments in a tropical context. The design of Monsoon Nest is informed by four primary parameters: contextual environmental data, parametric … Read more